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A plane flies over Stanford stadium in June 2016

A California judge who faced a nationwide backlash for his sentencing of campus rapist is facing a formal attempt to remove him from the bench.

Community leaders from Santa Clara County filed a notice of intention on Monday to collect signatures to recall Judge Aaron Persky next year.

Judge Persky was accused of leniency in his June 2016 punishment of Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner.

Turner had faced up to 14 years, but was handed a six-month sentence.

He was released after serving only three months in county jail for the January 2015 assault.

"Judge Aaron Persky stunned the world when he sentenced Stanford swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at a fraternity party," the notice to circulate a recall petition states.

Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, who is leading the recall effort along with 50 community leaders, said at a news conference: "Santa Clara County residents deserve a judge who will protect victims, not rapists.

"Women have had enough of rape culture," she added. "We are ready to take action and recall this judge."